I posted the wrong chapters.
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"Welcome to my kingdom."
Under the suffocating pressure that seemed to radiate like a supreme will, Inoue Orihime trembled, but she did not lower her head.
Surrendering was easy—but if she gave in now, it felt like something unseen inside her would simply vanish.
"…Heh."
No judgment was offered.
Turning his back, Aizen Sōsuke said lazily, "This meeting is over."
The gathering of Arrancar had never been about real discussion. Expecting beasts to reason and conclude was unreasonable.
So, in essence, these meetings were performances—rituals to entertain Aizen.
That was all.
He walked alone down the vast, empty corridor. Normally, Loly would be at his side, but her injury—her severed arm, not fully healed—had kept her away.
Still, Aizen spoke aloud, almost as if to himself:
"You've followed me this far and still won't speak?"
He stopped and half-turned.
"Gin?"
From the shadows emerged a tall, thin figure who knelt silently.
"Aizen-sama."
"Even you are being so distant now? I expected that kind of restraint from Kaname, but you…?"
He sounded disappointed, but Aizen rarely intervened in his subordinates' choices. He gave freedom—even if he knew where it led.
"So, you've left Seiya's side just to find me. Is there something urgent?"
A pause, like hesitation. Then, with a complicated expression, Gin lowered his head and asked:
"Why did you do that… to the human girl?"
It wasn't quite an accusation. More like a question burdened with confusion.
Gin couldn't understand.
Aizen had transcended normal levels of power. His soul existed on a different plane. Even elite warriors, Arrancar, Shinigami—none could match his level.
So why…?
Why would a giant pay any attention to an ant?
The thought consumed Gin. Enough that he dared ask.
But before he could elaborate—
Aizen sighed.
"Why? Ah, what a frustrating question, Gin."
His eyes closed, as though mourning something distant.
He chuckled softly.
"Does everything we do need a reason? A purpose?"
"I've been bound by logic for far too long. Sometimes, I just want to act on instinct… without thinking."
A strange rationale.
"Would you accept that?"
He didn't wait for an answer. His smile faded. All that remained was the silhouette of his retreating figure.
"You can report this to Seiya if you like. I won't hold it against you."
"Gin, we've been together since Soul Society. I've always wanted to share my thoughts with you, but…"
"You and Kaname are similar. You wouldn't understand."
So even someone like you… can't grasp me.
A faint, knowing smile flickered across Aizen's face as he walked away.
"Perhaps only Seiya can understand what I truly think."
It felt like a dismissal.
But Gin showed no resentment. Only deeper confusion.
Since when did Aizen act without reason?
What changed?
Only Captain Arima could understand…?
Gin silently faded back into the shadows—as if he'd never been there.
—Meanwhile.
The other Arrancar dispersed.
Only two figures remained.
"Can you walk?" Ulquiorra stood over Orihime, hands in pockets.
There was no sympathy in his tone.
Only duty.
His words were less a question than a prompt.
A wounded face. Swollen eyes. Concussion, perhaps. But nothing like a missing limb.
"I-I'm okay…" Orihime stammered, trying to stand. But her legs gave out, and she collapsed again.
Ulquiorra showed no emotion.
So fragile.
Just this level of damage, and she could barely move?
In the wild, she wouldn't survive a single day.
"You… are troublesome."
He stepped forward and unceremoniously lifted her off the ground.
"Ah—!"
She yelped in surprise as he hoisted her over his shoulder.
"Don't squirm. I don't want to waste time."
She was small. Light. An easy burden for someone of Ulquiorra's strength.
Tears welled in Orihime's eyes, and she whispered, "I'm sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I… I should've walked by myself…"
"That would be inefficient."
He found her words oddly curious.
"Why?"
"...Eh?"
"Why do you apologize to me so easily, but not beg for mercy from Aizen-sama?"
It didn't make sense.
"You're clearly capable of speech. So why behave like that?"
Why not submit to power?
Orihime bit her swollen lip.
"Because… I think I troubled you."
She wasn't afraid of force. But she was ashamed of causing inconvenience.
Ulquiorra didn't understand. He couldn't.
"...What does that mean?"
He received no clear answer, and the confusion remained.
But so did the curiosity.
Idle conversation—it was rare for him.
Still, occasionally exploring the unknown wasn't unpleasant.
They exited Las Noches and ventured across the barren expanse.
Orihime trembled slightly on his shoulder.
"Are you afraid, woman?"
"...No…"
She wanted to sound brave, but the tears wouldn't stop.
Ulquiorra, hearing her quiet sobs, silently raised a hand.
He formed a thin barrier with his black-green reiatsu—shielding her from the cold wind.
Startled, Orihime looked up.
Then came his voice, calm and distant:
"I once heard a theory from a certain lord."
"He said the power of Hollows comes from emptiness and fearlessness. But that strength is a mere illusion."
"Because we are… broken."
Prideful, violent, cruel, cold, lonely—
Each Espada represented a flaw, a fracture in the soul.
"But he also predicted…"
"If we could find what we lack…"
"Our power could evolve further."
He glanced skyward.
"That lord said… I might find my missing part through you."
So—
"You will be under my protection from now on."
Orihime clenched her fist.
Still afraid—but somehow…
Compared to Aizen, Ulquiorra felt gentler.
Until Ichigo came, this was her reality.
She wouldn't run from it.
She took a breath and said softly:
"Then… please take care of me."
"..."
No reply.
The two figures faded into the lonely desert.
—Far from Las Noches, hundreds of kilometers away—
Once a lifeless desert, this place now held a massive, square structure. Foreign, artificial—utterly alien in this world.
Ulquiorra approached its edge and placed his hand on it.
The energy flared in response, scanning and analyzing. Rejecting outsiders. Accepting only the registered.
A doorway opened.
Without hesitation, he entered.
The scenery changed instantly.
A Japanese-style courtyard. Peaceful. Bathed in warm light.
Birdsong, flowers.
It felt like Soul Society—not Hueco Mundo.
Even Orihime's eyes widened in awe.
"...Huh?"
"Ah, you're here already? Sorry~ I've been a little busy and couldn't check in."
A cheerful voice called from within the house.
Footsteps approached.
The sliding door opened.
"Please, come in! I've prepared tea and—"
The speaker froze.
He saw Orihime's battered face.
His smile faltered.
Ulquiorra stood silently, staring into the distance.
…What just happened?
A brief explanation followed.
Ulquiorra left, taking post at the door.
The man facing Orihime gave a bitter smile and bowed.
"Sorry, Orihime. I didn't expect things to go that far… My oversight caused you unnecessary pain."
"Aizen-sensei meant no real harm. He wasn't targeting you—he just happened to be in a mood to… observe."
Such was the way of one who stood above.
It all sounded complicated.
He laughed awkwardly.
"Hard to understand, right? Then let me apologize on his behalf."
"I'm sorry, Orihime."
"We meant no harm."
He was surprisingly kind.
But…
"How do you know my name?"
"Ah—because…"
He paused.
Tall and slightly slender beneath the loose robe, with long hair tied back, his face was androgynous.
Orihime knew who he was.
Seiya.
The one who had destroyed Seireitei.
It was impossible not to be nervous—she had seen his deeds with her own eyes.
This man had erased the heart of Soul Society without a blink.
And yet…
He gave her a gentle smile and said,
"Let's save the details for later. Right now…"
"Let's get your injuries treated."
"You've been through a lot. I'm impressed you endured."
He reached out and gently patted her head.
"You've grown a lot, Orihime—compared to when you were in Soul Society."
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Powerstones?
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